Daniel 5:22

KJV

And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;

KJV (with Strong's)

And thou {H607} his son {H1247}, O Belshazzar {H1113}, hast not {H3809} humbled {H8214} thine heart {H3825}, though {H6903} thou knewest {H3046} all {H3606} this {H1836};

Complete Jewish Bible

But, Belshatzar, you, his son, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.

Berean Standard Bible

But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.

American Standard Version

And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou knewest all this,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Daniel 5:22 delivers a potent divine indictment against King Belshazzar, condemning his inexcusable pride and spiritual recalcitrance. Despite possessing intimate, firsthand knowledge of the Most High God's sovereign power, vividly demonstrated through the humbling of his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar defiantly refused to humble his heart. This deliberate rejection of divine truth sets the immutable stage for the immediate and catastrophic judgment that befalls him and the Babylonian Empire.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is intricately woven into the dramatic climax of Daniel chapter 5, serving as the theological linchpin for the impending judgment. The chapter commences with Belshazzar's audacious feast, where he desecrates sacred vessels plundered from the Jerusalem temple by using them for pagan revelry, a direct and calculated affront to Yahweh, the God of Israel. This act of sacrilege immediately precipitates the terrifying appearance of a disembodied hand inscribing an enigmatic message on the palace wall. Overwhelmed by terror and unable to decipher the ominous writing, Belshazzar's court is in disarray until the queen mother advises summoning Daniel, renowned for his divine wisdom. Before interpreting the cryptic message, Daniel delivers a scathing and prophetic rebuke to Belshazzar, with verses 22-23 forming the core of this condemnation. This immediate literary placement underscores Belshazzar's willful defiance and provides the profound moral and spiritual justification for the swift and devastating divine judgment that follows.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Daniel 5 transpire on the fateful night of Babylon's fall to the combined forces of the Medes and Persians in 539 BC. Belshazzar, likely serving as co-regent with his father, Nabonidus (who was often absent from the capital), was intimately connected to the legacy of the Babylonian Empire. As a grandson (or direct descendant) of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar would have been profoundly aware of the powerful and public testimony of God's humbling of his illustrious predecessor, as meticulously detailed in [Daniel chapter 4](/daniel/4 "Daniel 4 - Nebuchadnezzar's Humbling"). Nebuchadnezzar, once the embodiment of human pride and imperial might, was divinely afflicted with madness and lived as a beast until he humbly acknowledged the supreme sovereignty of the Most High God. For Belshazzar to disregard this profound familial and historical precedent, especially while using the very temple vessels—potent symbols of God's chosen people and His inviolable power—for a pagan feast, reveals an extraordinary depth of arrogance and deliberate spiritual rebellion. This was not merely a cultural misstep but an intentional act of contempt against the one true God.
* **Key Themes:** Daniel 5:22 serves as a pivotal verse, contributing significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Daniel. Firstly, it powerfully reinforces the theme of **Divine Sovereignty**, demonstrating unequivocally that God is the ultimate ruler over all earthly kingdoms and their monarchs, possessing the absolute authority to establish and depose rulers as He wills, a truth articulated earlier in [Daniel 2:21](/daniel/2-21 "Daniel 2:21 - God Changes Times and Seasons"). Secondly, the verse starkly highlights the destructive nature of **Human Pride** and its inherent opposition to God's character and rule. Belshazzar's unhumbled heart stands in stark contrast to Nebuchadnezzar's eventual, albeit forced, submission, vividly illustrating the timeless biblical principle that "pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" as found in [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Precedes Destruction"). Thirdly, Daniel 5:22 underscores the theme of **Divine Accountability**, emphasizing that knowledge brings with it a profound responsibility. Belshazzar's judgment was not arbitrary but a direct consequence of his willful defiance and spiritual blindness, despite having clear and undeniable evidence of God's power and justice, a principle echoed in [Luke 12:48](/luke/12-48 "Luke 12:48 - To Whom Much is Given - The Parable of the Faithful Servant").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **humbled (Aramaic, _shᵉphal'_):** This verb signifies to depress, sink, or abase oneself. In this profound spiritual context, it refers to an internal, volitional act of self-abasement and submission before a higher, divine authority. Belshazzar's failure to "humble" his heart indicates a stubborn, defiant refusal to acknowledge God's supreme sovereignty and his own creaturely dependence, choosing instead self-exaltation.
* **heart (Aramaic, _lᵉbab'_):** In biblical anthropology, particularly in Aramaic and Hebrew thought, the "heart" denotes far more than merely the seat of emotions; it represents the very core of one's being—encompassing intellect, will, conscience, moral character, and spiritual disposition. Belshazzar's unhumbled heart thus signifies a profound internal resistance, a deliberate and conscious choice of rebellion and self-idolatry rather than humble submission to divine truth.
* **knewest (Aramaic, _yᵉdaʻ'_):** This verb means "to know," implying not merely intellectual awareness but a deep, experiential understanding, recognition, or even intimate familiarity. Daniel's emphasis here is that Belshazzar's sin was not born of ignorance but of willful disregard. He possessed firsthand, undeniable knowledge, particularly through the dramatic testimony of his grandfather's humbling, of God's power and His ability to abase the proud. His choice to ignore this profound truth made his sin all the more egregious.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And thou his son, O Belshazzar,"**: Daniel initiates his rebuke with a direct, personal address to Belshazzar, pointedly emphasizing his familial connection to Nebuchadnezzar. This is not a mere genealogical identifier but a sharp reminder that Belshazzar had a direct, intimate link to the very history of divine humbling that he was now so audaciously disregarding. The phrase "his son" can denote a literal son, but more broadly, a descendant or successor, underscoring the legacy of knowledge and warning that had been passed down to him.
* **"hast not humbled thine heart,"**: This clause delivers the central and most damning accusation. Belshazzar's fundamental transgression was not primarily an external act (though his feast was an outward manifestation) but an internal disposition—a stubborn, unyielding pride that adamantly refused to bow before God. The "heart" here signifies the very epicenter of his will, his moral compass, and his spiritual being, indicating a deliberate and profound resistance to divine authority and revealed truth.
* **"though thou knewest all this;"**: This concluding phrase powerfully underscores the inexcusable nature of Belshazzar's pride and rebellion. His defiance was not a product of ignorance or lack of understanding, but of willful disregard for clear, undeniable, and publicly attested evidence. He possessed full knowledge of how the Most High God had dealt with Nebuchadnezzar, transforming a proud, self-exalting monarch into a humbled worshiper. Yet, Belshazzar deliberately chose to reject this profound lesson and persist in his own arrogance, making his sin profoundly culpable and his impending judgment entirely just.

#### Literary Devices
Daniel 5:22 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to amplify its message and underscore Belshazzar's culpability. **Irony** is profoundly evident, as Belshazzar, a king with unparalleled access to historical and familial testimony of God's sovereign power, chooses a path of audacious defiance, directly contrasting with his grandfather's eventual, albeit forced, humility. This sets up a powerful **Juxtaposition** between Nebuchadnezzar's humbling experience and Belshazzar's unyielding, defiant pride. The repeated emphasis inherent in the phrase "though thou knewest all this" functions as a form of **Anaphora** (or at least strong emphasis), highlighting the king's undeniable culpability through his conscious knowledge. Furthermore, the verse serves as a crucial piece of **Foreshadowing**, as Belshazzar's unhumbled heart and deliberate ignorance directly precede and morally justify the swift and devastating judgment that is about to befall him and his kingdom, making his downfall a direct and inevitable consequence of his spiritual state.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 5:22 stands as a stark and enduring reminder of the immutable biblical truth that "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." Belshazzar's refusal to humble his heart, despite having undeniable knowledge of God's power and character demonstrated through Nebuchadnezzar, profoundly underscores the perilous nature of willful ignorance and spiritual arrogance. This verse highlights the universal principle of divine accountability, where greater knowledge of God's character and actions brings with it a commensurately greater responsibility to respond in submission, reverence, and obedience. It powerfully reinforces the theme that true power and lasting dominion belong not to transient earthly kings who exalt themselves, but solely to the Most High God, who sovereignly rules over all the kingdoms of humanity.

* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction")
* [James 4:6](/james/4-6 "James 4:6 - God Resists the Proud")
* [1 Peter 5:5](/1_peter/5-5 "1 Peter 5:5 - Humility Among Believers")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Daniel 5:22 serves as a profound and challenging mirror for self-examination, compelling us to deeply consider how we respond to the revelation of God's power, sovereignty, and truth in our own lives. Belshazzar's tragic downfall was not due to ignorance, but rather a deliberate and defiant choice to disregard what he knew to be true about God. This calls each of us to cultivate a posture of continuous, active humility, recognizing that all we possess and all that we are ultimately originates from God, and that true wisdom and spiritual flourishing begin with reverent submission to Him. We are perpetually tempted to cling to our own perceived strength, intellect, or achievements, much like Belshazzar, often forgetting that God alone is the ultimate source of all authority, blessing, and deliverance. This verse compels us to diligently learn from the lessons of history—both the grand narratives of Scripture and the personal experiences within our own lives—and to actively cultivate a heart that is quick to humble itself before the Lord, rather than hardening it in self-reliant pride. Our response to divine truth, whether revealed explicitly in Scripture, through the guiding hand of providence, or in the transformative lives of others, fundamentally determines our spiritual trajectory and ultimate destiny.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "all this"—lessons from God's dealings with others, or even in my own past—am I currently aware of but perhaps neglecting or refusing to apply in my life?**
* **In what specific areas of my life might I be exhibiting an unhumbled heart, resisting God's revealed truth or His gentle call to submission?**
* **How does my deepening understanding of God's absolute sovereignty profoundly impact my willingness to humble myself before Him and, consequently, before others?**

### FAQ
**What was "all this" that Belshazzar knew, and why was it so significant for his judgment?**

Answer: "All this" refers specifically and pointedly to the profound, public, and undeniable humbling of King Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar's grandfather, as meticulously detailed in [Daniel chapter 4](/daniel/4 "Daniel 4 - Nebuchadnezzar's Humbling"). Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful and arrogant ruler of his era, attributed the immense glory and power of his kingdom solely to his own might and wisdom. As a direct consequence of his unbridled pride, God sovereignly humbled him by driving him to live like a wild beast for seven years, until he was compelled to acknowledge that "the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes" ([Daniel 4:25](/daniel/4-25 "Daniel 4:25 - God's Sovereignty Over Kingdoms")). This was not a private, obscure event but a well-known, dramatic, and undeniable display of God's absolute power to abase the proudest of rulers. For Belshazzar, a direct descendant and successor, to possess this intimate, familial knowledge of God's dealings with his own family and still choose to defiantly reject and blaspheme Him, made his sin exceptionally grievous and his subsequent judgment entirely just and inevitable.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 5:22, with its searing indictment of Belshazzar's unhumbled heart despite his profound knowledge, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate human rebellion against God, which finds its perfect antithesis and divine solution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Belshazzar, an earthly king consumed by pride, defiantly refused to acknowledge the Most High God, leading to the swift and catastrophic demise of his kingdom. In profound contrast, Jesus, the true King of kings and Lord of lords, though existing "in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" ([Philippians 2:6-7](/philippians/2-6 "Philippians 2:6-7 - Christ's Humility and Incarnation")). While Belshazzar knew God's power but stubbornly refused to humble himself, Christ, who "knew no sin" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")), perfectly humbled Himself even to the ultimate point of obedient death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")). Belshazzar's judgment serves as an eternal warning against rejecting divine truth and hardening one's heart, while Christ's life of perfect humility and His atoning sacrifice offer the only path to reconciliation with God and true spiritual humility. Those who, like Belshazzar, harden their hearts against the truth revealed in Christ will face just judgment, but those who humbly acknowledge their need and believe in the One whom God has sent will find eternal life and inherit a kingdom that will never be destroyed ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World"); [Hebrews 12:28](/hebrews/12-28 "Hebrews 12:28 - A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Chronicles 33:23

And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.

Exodus 10:3

And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.

James 4:17

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.

2 Chronicles 36:12

And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD his God, [and] humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet [speaking] from the mouth of the LORD.

1 Peter 5:5

¶ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

James 4:6

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.